Item description:

A very nice TANTO signed BIZEN NO KUNI JU FUJIWARA SUKESADA . This sword is finished in the classic Bizen style of this period and is from the koto era. There were many smiths working at this time and could be one of the many of the fujiwara Sukesada smiths. It is constructed in typical bizen fashion with bizen tang and hira zukiri in shape. The hamon is Sugu-ha with much activity and plenty of nie with nioi. The hada is a mokume/itame mix.  From a historical perspective what makes this blade very special is the fact it was forged in the Momoyama period just before the great flooding of the Yoshii River which wiped out most of the Bizen smiths of this time.  This tanto comes mounted in a beautiful koshirai with a silver habaki. A brilliant example of a Bizen sword with an abundance of hataraki. The sword is very attractive and retains the original Bizen shape and is ubu with one hole. An extremely healthy sword for a koto period Tanto with wonderful koshirai.

The koshirae for this blade is very unique. The saya is finished in a beautiful glossy black lacquer adorned with a kirimon motif, one of the two emblems of the imperial family of Japan, composed of paulowina leaves and flowers. The tsuka has a beautiful gold same accentuated with red knodules. The menuki are a matching kiri-mon theme. The sageo is black to match. What is most unique about this saya is it has a hidden compartment for storing coins. Well to do merchant class to keep their gold hidden from sight.  A shirasaya and tsunagi have been made to protect the polish for years to come.

TO NOTE: A coin compartment on the outside of the saya with a sliding lid is called hikidashi-saya. If its compartment that goes inside, like close to the blade, and pulled out via the koiguchi, the entire mounting is called kotsubo-iretsuki-koshirae or mono-iretsuki-koshirae.